Stages of tooth decay
Tooth decay is a multi-stage process, beginning with demineralization and ending, if left untreated, with tooth loss. Tooth decay happens with bacteria that is present in the mouth interacts with food and sugar particles to produce lactic acid, a destructive substance that eats away at the hard surfaces of the tooth and creates small openings for bacteria to grow and thrive in small pockets on and in the tooth. While most adults develop a cavity at some point in their life, tooth decay can be avoided via good oral hygiene and limited consumption of sugar and processed foods.
Stages of tooth decay
The development of white spots marks the first stage of tooth decay. This is a result of the bacteria present in your mouth interacting with sugars not removed via brushing and flossing, resulting in acids that eat away at the enamel of the teeth. This is called demineralization, a process by which minerals like calcium are stripped from the teeth; the white spots that are created during this process are the areas where the calcium has eroded. If tooth decay is detected at this stage, it can be reversed by bolstering the process of remineralization, in which your teeth, aided by fluoride treatments or other products recommended by your dentist, are able to regenerate the minerals that your teeth are newly lacking.
The second stage of tooth decay is enamel decay, during which the process started by demineralization of the teeth results in breaks in the enamel that protects your teeth. A small pocket of decay then begins to take hold in the enamel of the tooth. This can lead not only to further decay inside the tooth but also culminate in the breakage of the affected tooth, which is a serious problem that requires immediate attention.
When the pocket of decay begun in the enamel breaks through to the dentin, the interior part of the tooth that protects the soft inner pulp, tooth decay has proceeded to the third stage, knows as dentin decay. This is what is traditionally referred to as a cavity, a small hole of decay in the tooth that is cleaned out and filled with a composite material to prevent further progression of tooth decay.
The fourth stage of tooth decay is involvement of the pulp, which is a painful malady that requires more intense treatment, usually in this case in the form of a root canal. At this stage, the center of the tooth itself is infected. The results of this kind of infection can cause both blood vessel and nerve damage, which is why root canals are frequently performed.
If warning signs were not heeded during the previous stages, tooth decay can proceed to abscess formation, during which the infection that began in the enamel and progressed through the dentin and pulp finally reaches the tip of the root of the tooth. This is not only a painful condition but a dangerous one, as this can result in further infection to surrounding tissues. Oral surgery is often required to treat tooth decay and the complications it creates at this stage.
The final stage of tooth decay left to progress without treatment is tooth loss and extraction.
Remember, though, that this does not have to happen. Good oral hygiene coupled with regular dentist visits can keep you from ever reaching this stage of tooth decay. Don’t skip regular dental check-ups even if your teeth look and feel fine. Lurking below the surface could be the beginnings of tooth decay. If you catch it early, you might just have the chance of reversing it – and learning about more ways to prevent this problem in the future.